Saturday, August 27, 2016

Writing a Book was only the Beginning

Edie here. I'm really excited to introduce you to Susan Baganz, one of my fellow authors at Prism Books. Be sure to read about her latests novels, out soon!

by Susan M. Baganz @SusanBaganz

In October
2009, I had a strange dream. I sensed I was supposed to write a novel in
November for National Novel Writing Month (www.nanowrimo.org). I figured it cost me
nothing, wasn’t illegal and if I didn’t finish the 50,000 word goal in
November, I would have at least tried.

So I wrote
a story that I’d been too afraid to write for more years than I can count.

I had a
blast. I wrote 110,000 words in 21 days. That story has since been whittled
down to the 80’s through many rewrites and revisions due to minor issues like,
say, head-hopping? I knew nothing then.

What was
more amazing though than finishing the rough draft of my first novel, was that
I connected with someone through the forums on NaNoWriMo. I never did things
like that! We lived in the same town and were both first timers. When she won I
sent her a NaNo-mail and told her my real name and gave her my contact information.
I figured it would be fun to meet and talk about the experience.

I got a
response. She called me by my maiden name. Told me we went to high school together.
She told me who she was—Carol.

I’d been
praying for Carol for twenty-five years. She’s a distant cousin of some kind as
well. Our initial separation after high school was over my faith in Christ.

Carol
wasn’t following him in 2009 either but we met and she brought
reinforcements—several other friends from “back in the day”. We sat at a
restaurant and I listened to 25 years of stories from each person. Tales of
heart break and survival.

We connected
on Facebook. Back then many of my posts were just plain silliness (okay,
sometimes they still are). A stay-at-home mom coping with craziness of raising
three children. She said every time she read a status it was as if God poked
her.

God grabbed
a hold of her heart. She quit smoking. Joined a church. Was baptized. Started
helping with leading worship there. Carol moved out of the home she shared with
the father of her son. Took an 18-month-long theology class I taught, because
she wanted to be mentored by me. Me?

My life is
messy. My choices in obeying God have led me down paths some people disagree strongly
with. There is nothing remotely “normal” about my life. She knew the down and
dirty of my reality.

Carol says
she believes the only reason she wrote a story for NaNoWriMo that year was
because God wanted her to reconnect us.

I didn’t
bring her back to faith in Christ. But I loved her where she was at and lived
my own authentic, messy faith, without apology.

Now I’ve
written so many books I’m losing count and have had several published and more
in the process. More waiting to be written. I edit for a publishing house. I
attend writer’s conferences and teach and encourage other writer’s on their
journey to publication.

When I can
I try to remind up and coming authors that publishing isn’t the real goal. Of
course we all want to see our names in print as writers. We cannot forget as
Christian writers that while God can and will use our words to bless others,
often he chooses to use us. You and
me. Messy. Real. Fallible.

We lose
something precious if we focus on the temporary thrill of seeing our book come
out. Don’t get me wrong. It is a thrill! But that passes. It’s temporary. The
impact we can make on the lives of those around us as we navigate our writing
careers though, can have an eternal impact. We can’t lose sight of people and
the value they have, on our way to a best-seller list.

Carol’s
name is published in the Lamb’s book of life. Just because I obeyed God and
wrote a book. The book didn’t bring her to Christ. It was our relationship that
had the impact and opened the door for the Holy Spirit to work. There’s nothing
more thrilling than getting to be a part of that.

Fighting evil has been a hobby, but fending off
marriage-minded debutantes—a chore.

Lord Charles Percy fends off a land pirate robbing a
carriage in broad daylight. Noting he has rescued a beautiful debutante, he
lies about his title claiming to be a mere mister.

The Honorable Henrietta Allendale isn’t convinced Mr.
Percy is who he claims to be. But after he admits to one blunder can she ever
truly trust what he says? Especially about the evil threatening her? Who is the
Black Diamond anyway and why would he be after either of them?

One intrepid debutant and one bumbling Baron soon join
forces to defeat evil. But to do so might mean they have to sacrifice the one
thing they’ve each held as most important—their single status.

Can the truth set them free to love?

Feta & Freeways (September 16, 2016

He’d never noticed her…till now.

Nikolos Acton is the lead singer of a Christian Band,
Specific Gravity, struggling to make it in the industry after an unplanned
break, touring the country with their manager, Tia.

Tia Bartel loved Niko for the longest time, but it wasn’t
until she stepped in to save his life that he finally realizes what has been
there all along. Is it too late for him? Could a relationship between them work
after years of ignoring her? How would he ever convince her he’s worthy of her
trust?

Susan M.
Baganz chases after three Hobbits, and is a native of Wisconsin. She is an
Acquisitions Editor with Prism Book Group, specializing in bringing great
romance novels and novellas to publication. Susan writes adventurous historical
and contemporary romances with a biblical world-view.

She is the
author of the Orchard Hill Romances, contemporary inspirational stories taking
place in the Milwaukee, WI area. Pesto
& Potholes and Salsa & Speed
Bumps and Feta & Freeways and
three more stories to come!

The
Baron’s Blunder, a Regency-period romance, while part of the Love is . . .
romance series by Prism Book Group, is also a prequel to Susan’s Regency series
called Rose Hill Romances which are filled with love and adventure in the early
1800’s. The first full length novel of five, The Virtuous Viscount will be coming soon.

Susan
speaks, teaches, and encourages others to follow God in being all He has
created them to be. With her seminary degree in counseling psychology, a
background in the field of mental health, and years serving in church ministry,
she understands the complexities and pain of life as well as its craziness. She
serves behind-the-scenes in various capacities at her church and is a member of
American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and serves on the board of the
southeast chapter. Her favorite pastimes are lazy…snuggling with her dog while
reading a good book, or sitting with a friend chatting over a cup of spiced
chai latte.

You can learn more by
following her blog www.susanbaganz.com, her Twitter feed @susanbaganz or her
fan page, www.facebook.com/susanmbaganz. Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/silygoos.

Thanks for this story. God does use us flawed people to reach others. I hoped that would be the case with my first book "Aimless Life, Awesome God" and it seems to be turning our that way. I too, live in SE Wisconsin and would enjoy connecting with you sometime.

Robert - I would love to connect! I'm president of our local ACFW chapter that meets in Milwaukee. Here's our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wiseacfw/ We meet on the first Thursday of the month at a new location at Wisconsin Lutheran College. Thanks for visiting and I pray your books provide wonderful fruit in impacting lives for Him!

Susan, Your story brought tears to my eyes. I struggle to complete my first book. God blessed me with a contract, an editor, and people who want to purchase it when it is finished. I write out of obedience. I did not want to write. I have grown to like (not love) the process over the last two years. Your story has rekindled my desire to finish. Some of the people waiting to read it are unsaved or given up on God. They know my messy life and still want to read it. Thank you for sharing your testimony. I am inspired to continue the arduous task of writing.

I pray God will give you joy in the journey. Much of writing is hard work to be sure and we all struggle at times to get it done. God blesses obedience though! Congratulations on the contract! How cool!